Out in the forest Echo would lay as he thought about the task in front of him. After his meeting with the very beautiful Verena, and their time in the dungeon known as the Cursed Forest the young hunter had begun to feel an interior hate for himself. Why would he hate himself? Where was such a feeling like this coming from? The truth of the matter was that Echo was no stranger to the feelings of self hate, back when he was younger his father gave him feelings like this all the time. The crying at night, the self hate, the low self esteem, and the urge to wanting to be acknowledged were all things Echo were familiar with. The young boy’s father would always belittle him for the power he lacked, and he thought that when he was blessed with the power of the 4 leaf grimoire he would have power. However it was clear that the young boy still had much to learn, as his recent adventures had shown he wasn’t as weak as he was but he was still nothing in the grand scheme of things. However that was soon about to change as Echo was going to take time to get stronger no matter what it took.

So the young male would need to look to the help of the leader of the Shadow Broker, also known as the Collector. It had been quite some time since Echo had seen the collector, or rather since he had seen the illusion of him. The collector was a very strange man indeed, hiding his identity in the shadows, only coming out when absolutely necessary. Knowing this though Echo believed that he could in fact gain an audience with the Collector. The idea of it was laughable but, it was still plausible. The Collector had already found it needed to come out to personally recruit Echo, so he was sure that he was worth enough to the man to allow a unexpected visit. The only problem at this point would be how would Echo contact the secret organization? In truth Echo never had a way to contact them because he never wanted to contact them, however with the dark intent blooming deep in his heart he was acting very out of character. So the first order of business was to find a way to contact the Shadow Broker.

Echo had thought back to all his past meetings with the group and how they had occurred. As he sat under his favorite tree thinking he would realize what each of the events had in common. Every time Echo had done a job for the shadow Broker, somebody came to or contacted him. That was bad news however as that means his way to find them was about to quickly go cold, however Echo being the intuitive man he was he had found a way to find them still. The new plan Echo had devised would involve him retracing his means of contact until he got himself to the higher ups in the organization. This basically mean Echo was going to go back to his main means of contact from the Shadow Broker, and ask them for a way to contact the Collector or at the very least where to find him. The path he was now embarking on was one filled with danger and dark secrets, but Echo knew the risk he was taking. Echo knew that he probably should be careful with the organization, as he knew their powers of just Enforcer B was great anyone else on her level or the Collector had to be just as powerful if not more.

However Echo had made up his mind, he was tired of trying to find power on his own, and it was time the collector started holding up his end of the deal. So the young boy would stand up and aim his body in the direction of Airse Garse, hopefully so that he could find Dirty Pete. Dirty Pete was a member of the Shadow Broker, who had given Echo jobs a few times. From what Echo seen the man could only be a rank or two above him within the organization, however even a man with status like that within the group could be of some help. The real question was if he would give his help or not, that would be seen upon the young hunter’s arrival. With the walk being about 4 hours Echo would arrive in Airse Garse, right as the clock struck 10 p.m. Upon entering the town he would make his way to Dirty Pete’s shop, hoping that he could catch the man in the same old spot he was always in.

Opening the door to the shop everything had looked the same as it always did. Abandoned, dirty, and old were the best three words used to describe the shop and everything in it. Echo hated being in this filth trap of a shop whenever he came to talk to Pete. The young man would let off a sigh before speaking out loud his pass phrase to access the base under the shop. “The hunter loves to gamble.” And with that magic would spring forth and allow the secret passage to open up and allow Echo to make his way down the stairs. Once he made it down the steps he would see Pete sitting at his old dusty table smoking a cigar, for Pete that was pretty standard activity. The red haired archer would walk in with a grin smirked all across his face. He would look to Pete and say “Pete, I’m only going to give you one time to answer this question. Where is the Collector?” Pete would take a hit from his cigar while looking at the young male with a face of confusion. Blowing the smoke from his mouth Pete would then ask Echo “What has gotten into you young archer? Is there something wrong? Do you need help?”

In truth there was something very wrong, what was wrong was the fact that Echo had begun to feel used by the Shadow Broker and he now wanted his due reward for his service to them. Echo would pull an arrow out of his back mounted quiver and hold it to the man’s throat saying “Tell me where the Collector is or how I can talk to him, if not I kill you right here where you stand! It won’t matter to me much I’m already a criminal thanks to you lot, so adding another death to the body count matters not.” Pete was completely taken off guard as he was smoking his cigar at the time. As the sharp pointed arrow was held up to his neck and pressed firmly against it he wold begin to sweat from nervousness. Pete’s sweating got worse and worse but he had given up when he accidentally made Echo jab the arrow into his own neck when he gulped the spit down his throat. “Listen Echo help me help you, I can get the Collector here but that won’t happen if you kill me!”

Finally the man had decided to speak, and him doing so would make Echo release him from the deathly grip. Echo would laugh as he would throw the man back to the other side of the table and he himself would then sit down. “So how do I get the Collector here? Remember now Pete don’t lie to me or try anything funny or I will kill you. Tou dont have to be a part of this I just really need him here like now…” Echo would then stand up before walking towards the steps to leave the hidden basement saying “Im giving you 24 hours, if he isn’t here by then I’m killing you and any help the Broker sends for you.” Before leaving out just to come back a day later. For that 24 hours, Echo would simply get a room at an inn in town. He slept half the day while hunting the other half. He managed to catch a baby deer, and a rather plump rabbit. Without a doubt he would use these animals as a source of nourishment for the day, after all he knew not what he would be walking into when he went back to Dirty Pete’s.

When he would return back to the shop’s secret basement he would find Pete sitting their alone just as he was the night before. The moment Echo saw this he began to grow angry and the feeling certainly showed on his face. He would charge towards the table grabbing Pete by the shirt collar, dragging him over the table. “Where the hell is the Collector Pete?!?! I told you 24 hours, and guess what? Your damn time is up!” Suddenly someone would come up and grab Echo from behind, which would cause him to drop Pete as he himself was thrown into a nearby wall my a mysterious person. When the dust had cleared and Echo was able to make his way back to his feet, he would see that the mystery person was in fact Enforcer B. The young brown haired woman would walk up to Echo with a look of disgust upon her face as she would look at the man. Her arms were crossed very tightly, while her hips were cocked to one side showing that the woman was very mad. Echo would merely maintain eye contact waiting for the woman to speak.

“ECHO!!!! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING ATTACKING ONE OF YOUR SUPERIORS?!?!” The woman would yell out in clear anger. Echo would simply scoff before coming within arms length of the woman and saying “Im tired of playing these Shadow Broker games. Tell the Collector either he helps me get the power he promised, or I’m out of this freak show!” The young red haired male would try to walk away, however his attempt would be foiled when Enforcer B would grab him by the shirt collar and pick him up into the air. Echo struggled to break free from her grip and as she held him he realized that this time this was the real her. Finally Echo had met a higher up from the Shadow Broker face to face. Echo had gotten so happy that he had stopped trying to struggle to break free. He instead had a giant grin on his face as he stared at Enforcer B saying “Hmm I guess my sensing has gotten better because something deep inside me tells me that you are really here right now. So this is really your true form huh? You aren’t too bad on the eyes Enforcer B…”

Enforcer B would slap the boy forcing him to be knocked out as she would then throw him on her shoulder. She would look to Pete and let off a smile saying “ Im sorry about all of this, I will make sure I tell the Collector and have him compensate you. We thank you for your many years of service Pete…” The woman would then begin to walk away, meanwhile Pete would look at her back and smile saying “Oh no problem ma’am, you have a nice day. And make sure you take care of that boy, I have a feeling he will grow to be a powerful one!” The woman would turn back to look at Pete one last time, smiling gently at him as she walked up the stairs heading towards the topside shop. As she walked up the steps quickly approaching the top even with Echo on her shoulder, although the boy would begin to wake up just a tad bit. He would look her in the eyes and say “Where are you taking me B?” The young woman would look at him and smile before saying “We are going home…” she would then place a well aim chop at the back of Echo’s neck putting him in a more deep sleep.

Upon waking up this time Echo would find himself in a bed, in a unfamiliar place. As he would look around trying to see his surroundings he would find Enforcer B sitting next to his bedside. He would quickly sit up and and look the woman in the face before saying “Where did you take me? I want answers now, because I’m tired of playing these games with you all.” The woman would stand up before looking over and throwing a bag to Echo. Echo would look in the bag and it would contain a set of clothes for him to wear. It was a simple black shirt and black trousers, but far nicer than what Echo currently had on. “Freshen up and change into that, we already had your measurements so you should find that it fits nicely. This is the standard attire for our people who stay and work in the base so you should blend right in.” The girl would then walk towards the door and as she would do so she said “I’ll be back in ten minutes so hurry up.” She then made her exit.

Echo would make his way to the bathroom inside the small room and begin the fresh up and changed his clothes. As the woman said the clothes had fit quite nicely, almost perfectly in fact. Echo would emerge from the bathroom and in the room the Enforcer would be waiting for him. “Follow me Echo we are going to meet the Collector, along with someone else who will be playing a role in your development.” The young male would do nothing but scoff as he would then begin to follow the young lady The two would walk through a building that looked like it had architecture from another land. The walls were a slate grey and the floors were a cold concrete. The male memorized every detail of what he saw as they walked. After about 3 minutes walking through the place they would arrive at a black and grey door with a mask painted on it. At first the sight would seem weird but what Echo was about to see would show him why the door was painted how it was. “Ok here is the Collector, please behave yourself when speaking to him.”

The young woman would open the door, and then just like that the Collector was once again within his view. The two would enter the room with Echo in front and Enforcer B behind him, as she would shut the door after they entered. The Collector sat at a table with a mask upon his face, the same in design as the one painted on the door. Another man that Echo had never seen before stood to the right of the desk at the Collector’s side, he too wore a mask however his was much more simple in design being a a blank white with a simple purple lightning bolt over the eye. Echo would look at the Collector and speak to him saying “Im here to collect what you owe me. Im tired of playing your games, and I want that power now!” The Collector would stand up from his seat and slam his hands down on the desk in front of him. “Power is not just something you simply get in an instant you naive boy! POWER IS SOMETHING ONE EARNS BY WORKING HARD, AND I WAS TRYING TO GIVE YOU AN OPPRUNTINITY TO HONE YOUR SKILLS!” The Collector yelled out.
The man would then let out a cough before sitting back down in his seat and placing his hands on the desk. “I apologize I lost my temper for a moment… however young Echo I was giving you what you wanted all along. You are being blinded by rage and arrogance. I was hoping that doing some of these missions would give you a more light touch.But instead you have not learned anything, all you have done was stopped killing animals and changed it to humans.” Echo would then grow a face of anger before he would charge at the desk with the intent to attack the Collector out of rage. However the attack was interrupted when the man standing next to the collector would step forward, and grab Echo by the arm and slammed him to the ground. The man was far stronger than anyone Echo had ever met, even stronger than Enforcer B.

The Collector would then nod to the man signaling him to let go of Echo. The man would stand over Echo after releasing him simply saying “Stay down and talk to his grace like this.” Echo would simply comply knowing he was clearly out of his league.”As I was saying Echo, we appreciate your service and I have allowed you here today to inform you of your promotion. Due to your special gifts and your continued good service I am granting you a promotion from attack dog straight to honor guard, meaning you bypass the rank of foot soldier. Any questions my not?” Echo’s eyes would peer upward trying to look at the man from his new seat on the floor. He would speak to the man saying “What more can you do for me? You guys have me doing all this work but I’m still working with the same gear and equipment I used to hunt animals…”

The Collector would let out a laugh before saying “Well your promotion to honor guard gives you access to Shadow Broker’s many metal workers and smiths. We also have a few people who could make you a new bow if you want?” Echo would yell out in anger from the ground saying “Absolutely not this is a family bow! This is a bow given to all the training hunters in my family.” The room would then fill with laughter as Enforcer B, the unknown man, and the collector all laughed at Echo’s statement. The unknown man would grab Echo by the shirt and pick him up saying to him “You’re only a training hunter and you act so big and bad? You are trash kid.” The man would then drop him back to the floor. The collector would then look to Echo and say “Boy you are foolish, but as you wish keep using that family trinket. Now Enforcer B take your subordinate and get him out of my office.”

The Enforcer would scurry over picking up Echo off the ground and put him on her shoulder to carry out. “I apologize sir please forgive him. We shall make our way to the armory to get him geared up and sent back out for a new mission.” The man would simply nod as the woman carried Echo out of the room, with the still mysterious man closing the door behind them. Echo would look at Enforcer B as he laid out on her shoulder and would look at her with a face of disgust before saying “So that’s it? All I get is a bit of a raise and some new gear that’s all y’all gonna give me?!?!” The Enforcer would stop walking as she would look at the boy before dropping him down to the ground and saying “You know what I think you can walk bastard.” The woman would then begin to walk off, and Echo would get off the ground to follow.

The two would walk through the facility, once again going back the way they had originally came but making a slight alteration to their path. Somewhere along the way the two would change routes and go down a hallway they originally had not which would lead them to some sort of workshop and laboratory. The place seemed very high tech and state of the art, but what else should one expect from an organization like Shadow Broker. The brown haired Enforcer would walk over to one of the workers in the lab and would begin to speak to them saying “Hey nerd I had a special request put in a few days ago is the gear finished or what?” The lab worker would look at the woman with straight fear in his eyes, showing that Enforcer B was a very intimidating woman.

“Yes Enforcer B we got the stuff done, even though we aren’t too sure about the magical compatibility of the saber and the user. The power of light magic is very unstable and we may need more time to work on the compatibility problem.” The woman would growl at the man saying “Go get the stuff now, we will field test it ourselves and report any defects back.” The man would simply nod still looking as if he feared for his life as he went off to get the equipment. As the lab worker was off getting the equipment Echo would say “This place looks nice. What is it for? So type of workshop for building weapons and gadgets?” Enforcer B would simply say “Yeah its something like that.” After a few moments the lab worker would come running back with a rather large brief case in hand. He would extend his arm out handing the case to Enforcer B, before the woman would take a hold and walk off.

The two would begin walking through the facility for the final time before saying “Here take this, I’m about to take you to the exit so you can be on your way.” The woman would look Echo in the eyes thinking about the young boy and his well being. The woman really wanted to see the boy grow, after all this was her newest subordinate and already he was only a rank under her. She was proud in a way, however she knew that if she didn’t put more effort into molding and guiding his growth the young boy would die a early death. As they approached the exit Echo would look to the Enforcer saying “This is exactly what I wanted when I demanded to meet the collector, but I believe that this was better than absolutely nothing. For that I thank you Enforcer B.”

The boy would begin to walk out the door of the building but was stopped by the sound of the Enforcer’s voice. “The stuff in that case should help you some, however it won’t be enough help him you don’t learn to stop being stupid! Get wiser and stronger! Get strong enough so that one day I will be calling you Enforcer E…” Echo would then turn around an dlet off a grin towards the woman before he would walk out the door leaving the facility.

[Exit]

WC: 3795